"I have prepared a trident of Wisdom in order to cut asunder their bondage." — Abhinavagupta This is a long commentary on a short Tantra. One of the most authoritative and venerated texts in Kashmir Shaivism, it deals with the nature of Ultimate Reality and with methods of realization focusing on the theory and practice of Mantra. Abhinavagupta presents his metaphysics of language, of the Word (Vak), and its relation to consciousness. He calls it, "trikasastra-rahasya-upadesa: The teaching of the secret of the Trika doctrine."
"I have prepared a trident of Wisdom in order to cut asunder their bondage." -- Abhinavagupta This is a long commentary on a short Tantra. One of the most authoritative and venerated texts in Kashmir Shaivism, it deals with the nature of Ultimate Reality and with methods of realization focusing on the theory and practice of Mantra. Abhinavagupta presents his metaphysics of language, of the Word (Vak), and its relation to consciousness. He calls it, "trikasastra-rahasya-upadesa: The teaching of the secret of the Trika doctrine."
Navy SEAL and author of Overcome Jason Redman’s highly-charged account of his combat missions in Iraq and his miraculous recovery from wounds that might have killed him—if it were not for his grit and the devotion of his wife and family Decorated Navy SEAL Lieutenant Jason Redman served his country in Columbia, Peru, Afghanistan and Iraq, where he commanded mobility and assault forces. In western Iraq alone, he conducted over forty capture-kill missions with his men, successfully locating more than 120 Al Qaida insurgents. In September 2007, while leading a mission against a key senior Al Qaida commander, his team was ambushed and he was critically wounded by machine-gun fire at point blank range. During the intense recovery that followed—a years-long process that included 37 surgeries—Redman gained national media attention when he posted a sign on his door at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, warning all who entered not to “feel sorry for my wounds.” Redman’s sign became both a statement and a symbol for wounded warriors everywhere. The Trident is an unforgettable story of one man’s determination to overcome adversity. Redman recounts his story, from his grueling SEAL training to how he found the balance between arrogance and humility all while fighting America’s enemies on far flung battlefields. He speaks candidly of the grit that helped him carry on despite grievous wounds, and of the extraordinary love and devotion of his wife, Erica, and family, without whom he would not have survived. Vivid and powerful, emotionally resonant and illuminating, filled with sixteen pages of photos, The Trident traces the evolution of a modern warrior, husband, and father—a man who has come to embody the never-say-die spirit that defines America’s elite fighting force.
The Circle of Knowledge is an informative book that was designed in 1917, to be both inspiring and entertaining. The book represents the modern, progressive spirit which fits that time, in its forms of expression and its editorship. The purpose of this work is to answer the why, who, what, when, where, how of the wide majority of curious minds, both young and adult, and encourage them to raise further questions. Special measures were taken in creating this work to isolate essentials from non-essentials; to differentiate human interest subjects of universal significance from those of little concern; to deliver living truths instead of dead vocabulary; and finally, to bring the whole within the knowledge of the intermediate reader, without regard to age, in an acceptable and exciting form. The use of visual outlines and tables; maps, drawings, and diagrams; the illustrated works of great painters, sculptors, and architects all are used to give the reader the valuable and cultural knowledge of past and present.
An in-depth analysis of the different worldviews available to us in today's world, their underlying metaphysics, and the symbolism they use to convey their doctrines. The Metaphysical Compass is an exercise in both analysis and synthesis, delving deeply into complex religious and philosophical issues while providing summarized access to vast amounts of information that is difficult for non-specialists to access. It is based on the incontrovertible premise that, especially after the globalization of knowledge, we find ourselves in a highly complex world in which different incompatible worldviews uneasily coexist. To guide us in our search, the book focuses on the metaphysical answers underlying the different worldviews available to us, whether religious, mystical, esoteric, philosophical, or scientific. It also stresses the importance of symbolism in transmitting these doctrines, and its undeniable and growing prevalence in today's mass media and popular culture. The Metaphysical Compass was designed as an enjoyable synthesis capable of conveying a large amount of information in a visual and summarized, but not dumbed down, way. Furthermore, the book contains plenty of hyperlinks (digital editions) and notes through which those interested can expand their knowledge on specific topics. It is an ideal book for those with little time to investigate and confront the great questions of life. Also for those interested in discovering all the possible solutions to the oldest philosophical question of all, which lies at the core of each and every worldview: the conflict between the One and the Many. The Metaphysical Compass includes: .: A massive repository of knowledge (both ancient and modern), highly structured and profusely illustrated, designed to clear up all your metaphysical doubts and guide you in navigating the complexities of the modern world and its myriad worldviews. .: A comparative table with the 41 main current worldviews, in which their particularities are described, their main symbols discussed, and their central metaphysical beliefs defined, compared, and categorized. .: 15 summary diagrams that explain the complete argument of the book in a clear and pleasant visual way. .: Graphics highlighting the prevalence of certain recurrent metaphysical doctrines in modern popular culture.
This book illustrates the extent to which we can understand the writings of the leading tantricas whose views regarding the universe and enlightenment developed from ritual practice and yoga. Contributors to this anthology include Helene Brunner, Gudrun Buhnemann, Richard H. Davis, Vrajavallabha Dviveda, Sanjukta Gupta, Minoru Hara, Paul Muller-Ortega, Navjivan Rastogi, Alexis Sanderson, Jan A. Schoterman, Raffaele Torella, and Teun Goudriaan.
